One Still Missing at Site of Little Rock Plane Crash

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Authorities hope to find a person missing after the crash of a small plane at Little Rock's airport.

The single-engine aircraft with two people aboard went into the Arkansas River, and one body has been recovered. The crash was yesterday afternoon.

Swift currents hampered the search but divers plan to return today.

The victim whose body was recovered had not been identified.

Officials say the plane was registered to 70-year-old Herbert Kirby of Pueblo, Colorado, and that it was being flown from Pueblo to Little Rock. His company, Kirby Fiberglass Incorporated, said he was headed to Destin, Florida, with a stop scheduled at Little Rock to refuel.

As the plane approached the airport, it crashed into the river just short of the runway.

Airport spokesman Philip Launius said the pilot spoke with the control tower briefly to report engine trouble, then lost contact.